Turning agricultural residues into a sustainable source of power and heat
Not every macadamia nut reaches the market - some deliver energy instead.
During macadamia processing, significant amounts of by-products are generated, including shells and nuts that are unsuitable for sale or further processing. However, these materials still contain valuable energy and can be used as a renewable fuel for decentralized power and heat generation.
Together with our Australian partner enerbi, we implemented a project that uses available macadamia residues to generate electricity and heat. The project demonstrates the potential of agricultural by-products and shows how previously unused materials can become a valuable resource for sustainable energy production.
Securing energy supply with locally available resources
A macadamia processing facility in Australia previously relied on diesel and LPG for its energy supply and drying processes. The monthly energy costs exceeded AUD 30,000.
To make better use of available resources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, an integrated energy system was implemented. The solution combines biomass gasification with photovoltaic systems, battery storage and microgrid technology.
The macadamia shells and non-marketable nuts are used as fuel for our wood power plants. Through the gasification process, the biomass is converted into usable energy, which is then used to generate electricity and heat. This allows the facility to cover part of its energy demand directly from its own processing residues.
The project demonstrates that biomass goes far beyond conventional wood fuels. Agricultural and industrial residues can play an important role in creating an economical and sustainable energy supply.
Spanner Re² technologies enable companies to utilize a wide range of biogenic residues and convert them into valuable energy, creating new opportunities for efficient resource utilization.
Key benefits:
- Utilization of locally available residues as fuel
- Reduction of fossil energy consumption
- Increased energy independence for businesses
- Sustainable generation of electricity and heat
- Added value from agricultural by-products
Technical specifications:
- Location: Australia
- Fuel: Macadamia shells and non-marketable macadamia nuts
- Electrical output: up to 100 kW
- Thermal output: up to 200 kW
- Technology: Biomass gasification, photovoltaics, battery storage and microgrid technology
Turning residues into energy
Every industry generates residues. The key question is: what happens to them afterwards?
With Spanner Re² biomass solutions, these materials can be efficiently utilized and transformed into valuable energy – creating a reliable, economical and sustainable energy supply.
Discover the potential of your residues and contact us to explore suitable energy solutions.